Our Statement of Faith

The doctrines to which we ask the assent of all applicants for membership are contained in the following Articles of Faith.

A. Inspiration of the Scriptures

We believe that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” by which we understand the whole of the Book called the Bible; nor do we take the statement in the sense in which it is sometimes foolishly said that works of human genius are inspired, but in the sense that the Holy Spirit gave the very words of the Sacred Writings to holy men of old; and that His Divine inspiration is not in
different degrees, but extends equally and fully to all parts of these writings, historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical, and to the smallest word, and inflection of a word, provided such is found in the original manuscripts. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; I Corinthians 2:13; Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Acts 1:16; 2:4

B. The Trinity

We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matthew 28:18, 20; Acts 5:3,4; II Corinthians. 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6

C. The Fall of Man

We believe that man, originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, fell from his high and holy estate by eating the forbidden fruit, and as the consequence of his disobedience, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that his moral nature was not only grievously injured by the fall; but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. Genesis 1:26; 2:17; John 5:40; 6:53; Ephesians 2:1-3; I Timothy 5:6; I John 3:8

D. Total Depravity of Man

We believe that this spiritual death, or total corruption of the human nature, has been transmitted to the entire race of man, the man Christ Jesus alone excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially and unchangeably bad; being at enmity with God, and incapable by any educational process whatever of submission to His law. Genesis 6:5; Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6; Romans 5:12-19; 8:6, 7

E. The Necessity of New Birth

We believe that, owing to this universal depravity and death in sin, no one can enter into the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes of society however useful, no baptism or other ordinance however ministered, can help the sinner to take even one step towards heaven, but a new nature imparted from Heaven, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvation. Isaiah 64:6; John 3:18; Galatians 6:16; Philippians 3:4-9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23

F. Salvation by Blood

We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, and made a curse, for us, dying in our place; and that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church or of all the churches that have existed since the day of the Apostles, can add in the very least to the value of that precious blood, or to the merit of that finished work, wrought for us by Him who united in His Person true and proper Divinity with perfect sinless humanity. Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter. 1:18, 19; II Corinthians 5:21

G. Christ Received by Faith

We believe that Christ, in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His obedience unto death, is received by faith alone, and that the moment we trust in Him as our Savoir we pass out of death into everlasting life, being justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved, and having His place and portion, being
linked to Him and one with Him forever. John 5:24; 17:23; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:4-6; 2:13; I John 4:17; 5:11, 12

H. Baptism

We believe in water baptism, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and that it should be administered only to those who have received Christ as personal Savior. We believe the mode to be immersion, although another mode will be accepted providing it is administered subsequent to one’s salvation. Acts 8:35-38; 9:1-6, 17, 18; 10:44-48; 16:30-33

I. Assurance

We believe that it is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take Him to be their Savior; and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own worthiness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in His written Word, exciting within His children filial love, gratitude and obedience. Luke 10:20; 12:32; John 6:47;
Romans 8:33-39; II Corinthians 5:1, 6-8; II Timothy 1:12; I John 3:2-10, 5:1-5

J. Purpose of the Scriptures

We believe that all the Scriptures from first to last, center in our Lord Jesus Christ, in His person and work, in His first and second coming; and hence, that no chapter of either Testament can be properly read and understood without recognizing that it points to Him; and moreover, that all Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, is intended for our personal instruction. Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 17:2, 3; 18:28; 26:22, 23; Romans 15:4; I Corinthians 10:1-11.

K. The Church

We believe that the church is composed of all who are united by the Holy Spirit to the risen and ascended Son of God and that by the same Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, and thus being members one of another, we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry, loving one another with a pure heart fervently. Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:32-47; Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:3-10; Colossians 3:14-15

L. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, who is a Divine Person rather than an impersonal influence, is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service, He is our abiding comforter and helper, and that He forever seals and secures the church, including the feeblest saint, and glorifies Christ, seeking to occupy our hearts with Him, rather than with ourselves and our experiences. John 7:38, 39; 14:16, 17; 15:26; 16:13, 14; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; Philippians 3;3; Ephesians 1:13-14

M. The Walk of Believers

We believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk worthy of Christ, not after the flesh which leads to death but after the Spirit in righteousness and obedience. Thus we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh; but put to death the deeds of the flesh, in loving subjection to Christ throughout our earthly pilgrimage, so that we do not dishonor His holy name. Romans 6:12-16; 13:14; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:1, 22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9

N. Heaven and Hell

We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body reunited shall be forever with Him in Glory; but the souls of the unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting torment and separation from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; Romans 6:12-16; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Ephesians 4:1; II Thessalonians 1:7- 9; Jude 6, 7; Revelation 20:11-15

O. The Blessed Hope

We believe in the personal, imminent return of Christ for the church; that this “Blessed Hope” is pre-millennial and pre-tribulational; that it is a dateless and signless event described as a mystery; that it is an event for which the child of God waits and lovingly watches; that this event was first announced by Christ Himself; and that subsequently, He will return to the earth with His saints to establish His Kingdom. Zechariah 14:4-9; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:51-58; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:1-11; II Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 19:11-16

P. The Resurrection of Christ

We believe in the physical resurrection of our Lord from the dead and in His bodily presence at the right hand of God as our Priest and Advocate. John 20; I Corinthians 15:3-23; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:24; I John 2:2

Q. The Great Commission

We believe that in the Great Commission, Christ charged His church with making disciples of all nations and people: we will encourage them to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior, as they declare their allegiance publicly in baptism and subscribe to His teachings, with Christ’s promised presence enabling us. Matthew 28:18-20; II Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 4:11-16; II Timothy 4:2